Stephanie J. Block's Cold

June 3, 2007
'The Pirate Queen'

Stephanie J. Block’s Cold

Stephanie J. Block was sick, bad. She had such a nasty bug that she missed a few previews of “The Pirate Queen,” a show that sits squarely on her shoulders (she plays the title character) and that she even had to leave in the middle of a critics’ night performance.

But you can’t miss opening night. So there she was on the stage of the Hilton Theater, flushed and occasionally sniffling but mostly belting out her songs like nothing was wrong. Anyone in the crowd who didn’t know she was sick would probably not have noticed, at first. But those who knew — a decent portion of the audience, presumably, including myself — watched as Ms. Block fought valiantly against both the English Army and her rebellious sinuses.

During the second half of the second act Ms. Block, as usual, was required to be onstage and singing almost continually for what seemed at least half an hour. The misery she was enduring was becoming more apparent (a good thing too, since her character was in prison).

But knowing the show, I suddenly recalled a scene that was fast approaching, a scene based on historical fact, at the pirate queen’s most triumphant moment, when Queen Elizabeth I gives her a handkerchief to blow her nose.

Now there were two story lines unfolding at once, a drama reinforced by real-life anticipation, the kind that can only come from watching real actors confront obstacles right in front of you. When the handkerchief was produced, a murmur passed through the audience.

Ms. Block blew her nose.

A few in the crowd laughed in support. She smiled.

And then she went on to finish the show with renewed vigor, almost collapsing in relief at the curtain call.

NYT: Stephanie J. Block’s Cold

Stephanie J. Block’s Cold